LYRA POV

For five days I have stayed hidden in my room. I thought I had a chance with Lucian, but the truth was I never did.

Even as just a whore, I wasn't a fit.

Who won't be disgusted seeing such a body? The voice in my head whispered those venomous words.

Tears streamed down my eyes as I remembered Lucian's words. It hurt, but he was right.

No makeup can overcome this ugliness.

Sighing inwardly, I leaned my head on the wall. Jules rarely came by, but surprisingly someone always enjoyed keeping food in front of my room.

I was truly grateful for that.

Hearing footsteps, I knew the person had come by again. Unfortunately this time, I heard a knock.

Wiping the tears from my eyes, I scurried over to the door. Unlocking it, I saw a girl I did not recognize.

“Eh…how can I help you?” My voice sounded more pathetic than ever.

The girl offered me a small smile, something about it seemed sincere but I couldn't hope yet. “The elders sent for you.”

My eyes widened. “What?”

I had heard the elders of the pack were exceedingly intimidating. They had power and influence in the pack's decisions, especially for a pack this big.

But what could they possibly want with me?

“Please follow me,” the girl said in a calm, friendly tone. It soothed my heart to feel something other than hate from others.

“Let me dress properly then,” I muttered, attempting to close the door, but she placed her foot inside, stopping me.

Her smile faltered. “I am afraid we don't have such time.”

I gulped, too afraid to refuse. What if she got harsh and mean? “Sure.”

My dress was plain just like my looks. I was wearing a cottage-brown dress that swept the floor as I walked. It was ugly, but it was the only thing that fit.

So there you have it.

We walked out of the pack house, I could feel eyes on me but I didn’t dare turn back. My eyes were on the floor.

I frowned when we stopped in front of a building, separate from the pack house. A sharp tang of herbs stung my nose, mixed with something metallic beneath it.

Probably the clinic.

But what were we doing here?

We walked in. The air smelled of dried roots, alcohol, and blood faintly hidden under the sterile scent. Somewhere deeper inside, I heard the faint drip of water and the shuffle of hurried footsteps.

She led me into a room.

“Go in, don't keep the elders waiting,” the girl urged, stepping backwards.

My legs shook in fear, but having gone through Lucian's rejection—what was the worst that could happen?

Taking a deep breath, I unlocked the door and entered. The low hum of machines filled the silence. My breathing hitched when I saw Lucian unconscious on the bed with needles punched into his body, thin tubes carrying crimson liquid into vials.

He looked pale and drained, his chest rising shallowly against the stiff sheets. What happened to him?

Panic surged through my veins, I rushed to him. But before I could touch him, someone grabbed my hands.

“Don't fucking touch my son!” The woman screamed in my face, shoving me hard. I stumbled backwards, but fortunately didn’t fall.

“Calm down, Margaret,” one of the elders said to her.

I bit my lips, nervous under the weight of their stares. There were only five people in the room, yet it felt suffocating, as though the walls pressed in on me.

The woman, Margaret, let out a warning growl. “This good-for-nothing fool couldn’t handle rejection and decided to bewitch my son, and you’re telling me to calm down?”

My jaw dropped at the accusation. Bewitch?

I didn’t even know any witches, and if I had known one—with the surveillance around this pack, leaving without anyone noticing was suicide.

The oldest stepped forward. “Do you know witchcraft is strictly prohibited in this pack?”

I nodded my head. It wasn’t just this pack, but all over Rome. Witches were parasites who sought the death of our kind a hundred years ago.

“Then why did you bewitch the Alpha?” The second man snapped, staring down at me like I was molding under his shoes.

I tensed. “I swear by the moon…I did nothing to Lucian.”

“Liar!” Margaret screamed. “You used witchcraft to make the bond one-sided. Trying to lure Lucian to you.”

I shook my head desperately, begging them to listen to me. “I…I…”

A fist collided with my jaw. Hard and fast. The metallic taste of blood filled my tongue, and I landed hard on the floor.

“Margaret!” The oldest man scolded her. She wore a smug look as I scrambled upward.

The third man stepped forward. “Enough of this madness!” He shook his head. "Whether she bewitched him or not, that’s something to discuss later. Now, the Alpha is dying.”

Blood drained from my face. This had to be some joke, because Alphas don’t die easily. “Why?”

The oldest sneered. “Mate bond. The rejection was incomplete for some reason.” His eyes were on me.

It felt surreal to hear, but deep down I knew it was true. I felt the bond when he touched me, but I assumed it was my hallucinations.

Stepping forward, “what do we do now?”

Margaret clicked her jaw. “What you have always wanted. You mate the Alpha.”

It wasn’t a suggestion, but a command.

I forced a lump down my throat. Lucian would rather die than be mated to me. “But Lucian…”

“He doesn’t have a choice,” she barked.

I nodded, my eyes fixed on Lucian.

The eldest was still staring at me, as if trying to figure out how the rejection didn’t work.

I lowered my glance. If I told them, my secret would be out.

It was obviously because Aurora isn’t my name, so the goddess didn’t recognize the pairing.

The third man cleared his throat. “You just have to mark him and let him mark you.”

“Yes sir,” I accepted.

Lucian would tear me apart if he woke to find I marked him. But it wasn’t just his hatred I feared.

It was the truth—that my lie was the reason he was dying.